Gustaf Andrew Karlson, 97

Saturday

Dec 22, 2007 at 2:00 AM

EAST ORLEANS — On Dec. 7, 2007, Gustaf Andrew Karlson, departed this earthly realm. Andy Karlson was born in Worcester on Jan. 25, 1910, to Albertina Swanson and Andrew Karlson, who emigrated from Sweden. He acquired his love of the outdoors in Worcester, where he hunted, trapped, fished and gardened.

EAST ORLEANS — On Dec. 7, 2007, Gustaf Andrew Karlson, departed this earthly realm. Andy Karlson was born in Worcester on Jan. 25, 1910, to Albertina Swanson and Andrew Karlson, who emigrated from Sweden. He acquired his love of the outdoors in Worcester, where he hunted, trapped, fished and gardened.

In 1933, Andy earned his Bachelor of Science in horticulture at the University of Massachusetts in 1933. There, he met his wife, Myrtle "Wendy" Stebbins Gary. Though the Great Depression was at its worst, Andy immediately secured a position at North High, where he taught agricultural sciences for almost 30 years. Andy was a member of the Worcester County Teachers' Association, for which he served as both a president and a board member. After school hours, Andy ran a landscape and nursery business. He worked actively with the Worcester Horticultural Society, and area farms and garden clubs, also a member of the Masons.

In 1942, Andy joined the Navy, and completed officer training school at Princeton University. On D-Day, he commanded a fleet of 14 rocket ships at Utah Beach. In 1944, he became the commanding officer of the USS Daedalus. Tragedy struck in 1953 when the historic Worcester tornado destroyed the family home and critically injured two of his children. He and Wendy remained forever grateful to the American Red Cross and area medical providers for their help.

Andy and his family summered at their home on Nauset Heights in East Orleans, which later became their retirement home. In October of 1990, Andy lost his beloved wife, Wendy. He then began hiking mountains in New England, the Appalachians, the Sierra Nevada, the Rockies, the Alps and Nepal.

He delighted in time with his family and friends, especially his annual fly-fishing trips. He leaves great memories and love for his five children and their spouses, Andrew Gary Karlson and Barbara Oroza of Patchogue, N.Y., Peter Gustaf Karlson and Danielle de Benedictis of Milton, Michael Stebbins Karlson and Jane King of Nantucket, D. Jeffrey Karlson and Trisha Daly-Karlson of East Orleans, and Donna Mae Karlson and Arthur Greif of Bar Harbor, Maine; 10 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren.

Contributions may be made to the American Red Cross of Central Massachusetts Disaster Relief Fund.

A memorial service in East Orleans is planned for next spring.

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